Improvement in lamps



. l-Sheets Sheet I. J. B. ALEXANDER.

Lamp. .No. 101,961. Patented, April 12, 1870.

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1-. B. ALEXANDER. 4 Sheets-Sheet Lamp.

Patented April 12, 1870.

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. Lamp. No. 101,961.- Patenited April 12, 1870.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4. J. 'B. ALEXANDER.

Lamp. I No. 101.961. Patented April 12, 1870.

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Letters Patent No.101,961, (mun April 12,1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN LAMPS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

To all whomit may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH BELL ALEXANDER, ofWashington, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, haveinvented a new and useful iinprovelncnt in Lamps; and I do herebydeclare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings and the letters 'of reference marked thereon, to be a full,clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawingsconstitute part of this specification, and represent in- Figure 1 adiagram of the lamp-fount in vertical section, showing the top andbottom openings without valves.

Figure 2 is a vertical section of the lamp-fimut with its proper valvesand machinery occupying its place within the bowl of a lamp orchandelier.

Figure 3, a vertical section of a lamp or chandelier with the fountempty, and showing the lower or feedopening closed, and theair-hole atthe top and mouth ot the receiving tube opento receive a replenishmentof liquid.

Figure 4, a vertical section of a lamp or chandeliei with the fountfull, and showing the air-hole atthe top closed air-tight by a valve,the mouth of the receiving-tube closed loosely, and the lower orificeopen, through which the liquid passes automatically to feed the flame,as required.

Figure 5, a vertical section of another form of antomatic fount,embracing the principle of being replenished through an opening at thetop.

Figure 6, a vertical section of the fount shown in fig. 5, feedingliquid from an elevated position through a pipe to a chandelier. 1

Figure 7, a vertical section of the bowl of a lamp or chandelier formedwith an inner and outer cylinder.

Figure 8, a plan view, showing a horizontal section ofthe lamp-bowlshown in fig.i.

Figure 9, a vertical section of the lamp on a stand, showing theliquidin the bowl standing about thelevel of the mouths of theexit-tubes, and a screw for raising and lowering the body of the lamp.

Figure 10, a vertical section of the same, showing the body of the lampelevated by the screw, and tipped over so as to show the level-linesassumed by the liquid in each of the four diflerent chambersrepresented.

Figure 11, a side elevation of the lamp, in perspective, showing spiraltubes surroululing the outside of the bowl from which they receive theliquid on one side and discharge it into a tube conveying it to alamp-burner on the opposite side. P

Figure 12, a vertical section of a modificationof the reservoir-fount,shown in figs. 2, 3, and 4, in which the valve M is dispensed with, theair-hole E being placed at the end of a tube opcning at the botof thevessel A, which i'srepresented as filled with oil.

Figure 13 the same as fig. 12, and showing the fount A nearly empty, andelevated by the spiral spring S, for the purpose of being replenished;and

Figure 1.4, a horizontal scctionof the bowl B, pipes P I, tubes 1t 1t,and burner-cups O O, as arranged in figs 12 and 13.

Similar letters of referenccdenotc like parts where ever theyoccur inthe several figures, as follows:

A, the lamp-fount..

' B, the bowl of the lamp, receiving the fount.

O, a tube extending downward through the center of the. fount to about aquarter of an inch from the bottom of the vessel.

D, an exit or discharge-orifice in the center of the bottom of thefonnt, and in a line with the axis of the tube 0.

E, a small orifice or air-hole at any convenient part of the top of thevessel A.

F, ruled lines representing oil or liquid wherever they occur orcxtendin any of the figures.

G, a rod or stem arranged to move up and down in the center of the fountA.

H, a loose cover for the mouth of the tube 0, hinged to the top of thefount A, and connected with the stem G by an elbow-joint at K.

I, a hinged cap over the air-hole E.

L, a spring for holding down the valve I upon the air-hole E.

M, a piece of leather attached to the under part of the hinged cap I,forming a flute-key valve upon the air-hole E.

N, a cam arranged on any part of the hinged cover H, so that when H isnearly up to its highest point, it will suddenly act on some connectionwith the valve I, so as to raise it also, barely suiiicientto give afree passage for air.

O 0, cups into which the lamp-burners are screwed, and which areconnected with the bowl B by the tubes 1 P.

Q, a hollow or solid pin descending from the bottom of the bowl ,B, soas to loosely enter a socket upon a stand, thus ibrming a swivel for thehorizontal rotation of the body of the lamp.

.It It, small tubes connected with and discharging into the tubes 1 P,and arranged either inside oroutside of the bowl 13, so as to receivethe liquid or oil from the opposite side of the bowl B to that to whichit is conducted for consumption.

S,a spiral spring acting on the rod or stem G.

' T, a leather disk attached to the lower end of the stem G by means ofthe metal cap U and --screw-nnt V, forming a valve for closing theorifice D.

WV, dotted lines showing the position of the valve T, the hinged coverH, and the valve I, when the stem G is allowed to spring upward.

Y, a spring-bolt working in the tube Z for the purpose of holding downthe hinged cover H.

a, a cap acting as a screw-nut on a screw out upon the upper part of thestem G, as seen in a second modification of fount, shown in plates 2 and3, (sec figs. 5 and 6.)

1), fr leather disk or washer.

0, aeup, which may be raised on the top of fount A to receive disk I)and oil.

(Z, a nut of plunger on lower end of stem G.

( upper opening of the fount A.

f, a pin attached to nut cl.

g, a tube to hold the sprin g S, and guide the movement of the valve 11,T, V.

h, a slot in the tube 9 to accommodate the pin j,

which prevents the rod G turning.

ii, exit-holes for oil or liquid from a double cylinder bowl to thepipes I I, the liquid passing through the narrow spaces between theouter and the inner cylinders marked j j, and thus feeding each pipe andburner from the opposite side of the bowl, the effeet being the same aswith the tubes R It.

It, a pipe leading oil or liquid from an elevated fonnt of the secondplan.

I, the pipe of a chandelier.

an, the point at which the reception and distributingbowl of thechandelier is screwed to pipe I.

n, o, 1), represent the support of the fount and chandelier, as, forexample, the ceiling, iuterspace, and;

at, the lower end of the liquid or oil-pipe of chandelicr.

g the collar of a lamp-stand, which receives the pegorpin Q. a 1

The nature of my invention relates to such lamps as sustain the oil intheir founts by atmospheric pressure, and feed it automatically upon theprinciple of the bird-fountain, as in the German students lamp, with afonut which may be filled by an open mouth at the top, as in anyordinary hand-lamp, and which shall'be made to feed the liquidautomatically, or be checked at will, and consists in constructing suchlamps under a peculiar arrangement andcombination of parts, andproviding them with a peculiar mechanism, as hereinafter described; alsoin providing such lamps as feed their oil through pipes at a distancefroimthe center or reservoir with an arrangement which will prevent theoverflow at the ends of the pipes when tilted over, so that they can becarried about more safe and free from overflow than an ordinaryhand-lamp; also in providing such lamps with an easy horizontalrotation, and a quick and easy mode of elevation.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionappcrtains to make and use the same, I.

varied somewhat in the construction when applied to hand-lamps fromthose lamps which are fixed, and receive their oil from an elevation, Iwill describe first that form of fount best adapted to use inhand-lamps.

For this fount a close vessel may be made of cylindrical shape, (see A,fig. 1,) having a tube 0 dcwill descend and rise under the lower end ofthe tube G, expelling the air before it through the hole E until thevessel A is full.

If this vessel be now placed in an open disk 01' bowl, B, (withoutrevcrsing,) and the finger be withdrawn from the hole D after applyingfirst a finger upon the hole IE, it will be seen-"that the tube 0 willbecome emptied of the small quantity of liquid it contained, through thehole D, and also enough liquid will pass from the vessel A to raise theliquid in the basin B to a level with the lower end of the tube 0, thevessel'A retaining itself full by atmospheric pressure.

If any liquid be drawn away from the basin B, the sinking level willleave the lower end of the tube 0, and a bubble of air will rush underit up into the body of the vessel A, and thus expel enough liquid to restore the equilibrium in the basin B.

The principle involved is thus completely described, and to render iteffectual as an automatic feeder to the flame of a lamp situated lowerthan the head of 'oil in the fount, and completely manageable withoutremoval from the lamps, it is only necessary to arrange within and uponthe vessel A such suitable machinery as will simultaneously close thelower orifice I) and open the upper orifice E and mouth of tube 0, andrice rersa; or, what is better, to so arrange the machinery that theorifice D will be closed before the orifice E is opened, and,conversely, that the orifice E will be closed belore D is opened again.

By referring to fig. 2, it will be seen that a rod or stem, G,-linkcd atK to a hinged cover, H, may be made to move up and-down in the center ofthe tube 0 ifice D loosely, and is terminated by a leather disk, T,washer U, and nut V, ibrming a valve for closing the orifice D, which itis better to slightly elongate by a short piece or" tube, X.

The air-hole E may be opened or closed by means of a valve composed of aleather disk, M, and metal cap I attached to and pressed down by theprong of a helical spring, L, which extends forward in such a manner asto be operated upon and slightly lifted by a cam, N, on the hinged lidH, thus lifting the valve M and slightly opening the air-hole E.

The rod G is forced upward by a spiral spring,.S, attached to it andoperating within the tube 0.

The rod G, valve T, and hinged cover H are held down by a spring-bolt,Y, working in the tube 95, thus loosely closing the mouth of the tube 0,tightly closing the air-hole It, and opening the lowcrorifiec D.

If the spring-bolt Y be drawn, the rod G will be forced up by the springS and push up the cover H, which, operating by the cam N the valve M,the mouth of the tube 0, and the air-hole E are opened while the lowerorifice D is closed, and the parts assume the position indicated in thedotted lines \V.

In this position the fount may be filled with liquid by simply pouringit into the mouth of the tube 0, and, as no possible discharge can takeplace through the orifice D while in this condition, it will be seenthat the automatic action of the i'ount is directly under the control ofthe will. 7

If the coverllbe forced down suddenlyby the finger, it will catch underthe spring-bolt X, allow the airholc E to be closed, and open theorilicc I), when the liquid will. supply automatically any waste orconsumption from the level in the bowl B.

The'valve M covering the air-hole It may be made the hole D and liquidpoured into the tube 0, the liquid' The lower end of the rod G passcsthrough the orto hinge directly on the fulcrum of the cover II, and maybe held down by the spiral spring L attached by the upper end to itscenter, and by the lower end to the bottom of the vessel A, as seen infigs. 3 and 4.

The cover H'has a small part of the upper portion of its axis cut awayat N, (see auxiliary drawing attached to fig. 3,) to which is adapted anextended portion of the axis of hinge-valve I, which is so cut that thecover H in rising will only affect the valve I in the latter part of itsupward stroke.

The air-hole E may be placed at the bottom of the reservoir A by beingmade the termination of an airtube,.exten'ding from near the top of thereservoir downward 'to the bottom of the same, as shown in figsrl2and'13.

The lower end of this air-tube dipping below the surface of the oil inthe bowl B is sealed by the column of oil which rises in it, andperformsthe same function as the valve M, which is dispensed with in thismodification, as seen in fig. 12.

In this arrangement, when the reservoir is to be replenished with oil,it must be elevated by being lifted up, orby means of a spiral spring,S, until the air-hole E at the bottom rises above the surface of the oilin the bowl B, as seen in fig-13.

After filling the reservoir it is pushed down to its proper place in thebowl B, and held'there by means" of buttons, spring catches, or anyother suitable device, as in fig. 12.

The elbow-joint K, shown in figs. 2, 3, and4, may also be dispensedwith, and the upper-end of the rod Gallowed to play loosely against theunder part of the hinged cover H, as in figs. 12 and 13.

I. will now proceed to describe another form of fount, as alreadymentioned, and adapted to feeding liquids through a pipe or pipes fromanelevated position t o fixed lamps or chandeliers.

By referring to fig. 5 it will be seen that the fount and entirelyclosed, except the lower orifice D and an orifice, 0, directly in thecenter of the top, and of sufficient diameter to admit the free pouringof liquids through it into the vessel.

A piece of tubing, 9, (see auxiliary drawing to fig. 6,) having a slot,h, cut int-o its side, is firmly attached by one end to the bottom ofthe fount A, and directly surrounding the orifice 1). v

This piece of tube serves as a guide for the plunger d, which is screwedonto the lower end of the rod G, to which is also attached a leatherdisk, T, by the nut V. I

A. spiral spring, S, is placed in the tube 9, around therod G, andconfined by a cap having a hole in the center, through which the rod Gplays.

The upper portion of the rod G has a screw'thread cut upon it, tocorrespond with a female thread cut in a long tubular but, a, to whichis attached aleather disk, I). i

\Vhen the cap-valve a is raised so that the fount can be filled bypouring liquids through the mouth 0, the lower valve T will etfectnallyclose the lower orifice D.

When the fount A has been filled, if the cap-valve a be screwed down, itwill descend upon the rod G un- .til the leather "disk I) will becomeair-tight upon the If the nut a be turned a number of times more in thesame direction, the plunger (1 and valve T will rise up and open thelower orifice I).

The rod G is kept from turning by the pin f, inserted in the plunger d,and working in the slot h.

This formiof. fount maybe used in hand-lamps, as shown in figsu9 and.10,. but is better adapted to stalier, suspended to the ceiling at (1.

tionary and elevated positions, where a fount containing from one tomany gallons is required, and, where liquids are required to descendautomatically from elevated positions, it is the only forinthat can beused for that purpose.

By referring to fig. 6, a fount of the form shown in fig. 5 may be seenoccupying an elevated position on the floor y). i

A pipe, 76,001111C0t8il with the lower orifice 1), passes through thespace 0 between the floor p and-the ceiling a, and descends through thepipe Z of a chandc:

The chandelier is provided with a bowl, B, attached to the case-pipe II,at m.

The tube It, which descends air-tight from the fount A, ends with anopen mouth, presented downward at x, a little way into the bowl B, fromwhich may extend pipe-arms P P to burner-cups O 0.

To operate this fount in connection with the chaudelier, as shown infig; 6, it is necessary to turn back the long nut a until the valve Tcloses the-lower orilice D, and the valve 11 rises sufiiciently to admitliquids to be poured into the mouth 0.

'When the fount is full,turn down the nut to until the valve 1) closesair-tight the upper orifice e, and continue to turn the ind; until thevalve T is sufficiently raised to admit the air to ascend through thepipe k, orifice I), and slot f. Y

The liquid will then descend through the pipe is intothc bowl B, tubes 1P, and burner-cups O 0,

until it will rise to the point x, sealing the mouth oi" the pipe k,which will soon become full in its turn, giving its air to the interiorof the fount A, until a complete equilibrium is established.

This fount can be refilled at any time without moving the fount ordisturbing a drop of the liquid in the pipe k, or the equilibrium in thebowl B.

I will observe here that the act-ion of the rod G, as represented inplate 1, is entirely different from its act-ion, as represented inplates 2 and-3; also that the fount, shown in figs. 1, 2., 3, and 4,receives all its air from the top, descending through the tube 0, andthe fount shown in figs. 5, 6, 9, and 10, receives all its air throughthe lower orifice D.

It can be seen at a glance that the fount shown in figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4,is best adapted to hand-lamps, on account of the instantaneous action ofthe machinery in the opening and closing of its orifices.

To render this invention more useful when applied to the hand-lamp, bypreventing an overflow of oil in the cups 0 0, when the lamp is tiltedor leaned over, (see figs. [7 and 10,) I cause each burner to besupplied with oil from the opposite side of the fount from that fromwhich its tube and support emanate.

By referring to fig. 2, it will be seen that the supply-tube It rises onthe opposite side of the'bowl from that of the burner-cup 0, almost tothe standard level of the oil in the .bowl B, its mouth being butslightly submerged below the level line. If the lamp thus arranged betilted over in the direction of the cup 0, the change of position. ofthe oil in the bowl B, leaves the receiving-mouth of the tube It abovethe oil, and receiving only air, and, as the upper mouth of the tube Itis the only means of communication between the oil in the bowl B andthat in the cup 0, it is obvious that no more oil can escape into thecup 0 than the minute quantity contained-in the small tube R.

This will be the result with any nnmberof branches from a common center,if the same arrangement is observed. I

Figs. 3 and 4 represent the tubes R It as passing each other-inside ofthe bowl B, and raising their mouths to near the standard oil-level,oppositely to their respective burners.

The same effect is obtained by smalltubes arranged on the outside of thebowl B, receiving oil on one side and discharging it into a burner cupon the other side, as seen in figs. 9, 10, and 11.

The same effect maybe produced by making the bowl B of the lamps of aninner and outer cylinder, with a very narrow space between the two, asseen in figs. 7 and S.

This narrow space j j mustbe divided into two separate chambers bylongitudinal partitions near the exit of the tubes 1 I, and nocommunication must exist between the center of the bowl B and theseparate chambers jj, except by two small holes it, leading one intoeach chamber, and the chambers each connnunicating with its respectiveburner-cup oppositely to its point of communication with the interior ofthe bowl B. i

The holes t" i, as necessary, must be made at an elevation a trifleunder that of the standard level of the oil in the bowl B, whencontaining an automatic lount.

Numerous other devices might be illustrated embracing the same principleand obtaining the same result.

As another improvement upon the kind of lamp here described, I attach apiece of tube or a solid peg,

Q, figs. 2, 8, 4, 7, 9, l0, and 11, centrally to the bottom of the bowlB, so that it shall project downward, and enter and turn like a swivelin the collar of any ordinary glass or other hand-lamp.

. By this means the burners 'r 1 can be made to revolve horizontally bya push of the finger, without having to move the stand on which itrests, as in figs. 9 and 10.

The lamp, as seen in fig. 11, can be instantly applied to any commonhand-lan'ip which has a standard size collar upon it.

For the purpose of elevating this lamp or lowering it, (see figs. 9 and10,) I make a pedestal, z, and a rod, t, rising up from it, upon which Icut a spiral groove.

I make a tube or a globular case, n, which will slide ireelyupon the rodt, and which will receive the peg Q oi the lamp into its upper end. I

Near the lower end of this case it I insert a pin, 12,

the point of which is made to enter the spiral groove 5 on the rod t,and thus form a nut which will elevate f the lamp by simply twisting thecase a with the fingers.

A set-screw, w,.is inserted into the case a about opposite the pin 'u,the point of which being screwed against the rod will sustain the lampat any elevation at which it is placed.

The automatic action of my improved fount is that of the well-knownprinciple of the bird-fountain. The well-known and popular lamp, calledthe German students lamp, has a fount, which to be refilled must bewithd a vn from-the bowl of the lamp, the valve held by the fingerswhile the fount is turned bottom up and the'oil poured through a hole inthe bottom.

The valve must be held by the fingers again to seal the hole until thefount can be reversed and returned to the bowl of the lamp. This cannotbe done without soiling the hands, and making other discomfort's.

The German students lamp being'an application of the bird-fountain inits simplest form, will overflow in a heated room, when the air in thefount becomes so rarefied as to expand and drive out a large portion ofits liquid contents; consequently, drip-cups'are a necessaryaccompaniment to it.

It will also overflow instantly if leaned over or inclined, as the oilwill rise through the burner-cup by gravitation-all of which act as acheck on its otherwise superior advantages over all other lamps.

The advantage of my improved lamp over the Ge rman students lamp, andall other lamps of that class, is, that the fount can be refilled bypouring the oil in at the top of the lamp, as in the common hand-lamp;that no overflow can occur by inclining the lamp, for

which reason it can be used with safetyas a common hand-lamp; that anyoverflow which might occur by change of temperature in the surroundingair rarefying the air in the fount can be always prevented instantly byclosing the lower orifice of the fount, by means of the mechanismattached; and that the flow of oil from the fount can be entirelystopped oil when the, lamp is not in use.

Having described the construction and operation of my improved lamp,

hat I claim as new and as of my-invention, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, is-

The tube G, as arranged ina removable or stationary fonnt of a lamp, A,in combination with .the

dowel orifice 1), the air-hole E, valve M, spring L,

hinged cover H, cam N, elbow-joint K, rod G, spring S, valve T, andspring-bolt Y, and these in combination with the bowl B, tube It, pipeI, and burner-cup O of a, lamp, substantially as described and for thepurpose set forth. 1

Also, the tube 0 and air-vent- I l, as arranged in a removable orstationary fonnt of a lamp, A, in combination with the lower orifice D,rod G, hinged cover H, spring S, spring S, valve T, and spring-bolt Y,or its equivalent, and these in combination with the bowl B, tube R,pipe P, and burner-cup O of a lamp, substantially as described and forthe purpose set forth.

Also, the combination of the fount, shown in fig. 5, with the tube 1.,pipe I, and a chandelier, as shown in fig. 6, substantially as describedand for the purpose set forth.

Also, the prevention of the overflow of oil or liquid in the burner-cup0 when the lamp is tilted or inclined, as in figs. 7 and 10, by soarranging the receiving-orifice of the duct leading to the burner-cup Othat it will stand below, but near the surface of the liquid in the bowlB, when the lamp stands horizontally, and immediately rise above thesurface of the liquid when the lamp is inclined, substantially asdescribed.

Also, the tube It, in combination with the bowl B, pipe 1?, andburner-cup O, and these with any automatic reservoir'fount,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

Also, the narrow chambers jj and holes 41 i, in combination with thebowl B, pipe P, and burner-cup O, and these with any automaticreservoir-fount, substantially as described and for the purpose setforth.

Also, the peg Q, in combination with thebowl B, pipe I, and "burner-cupO, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

Also, any automatic reservoir-fount, in combination with thespirally-grooved rod 1., nut c, set-screw w, pedestal z, and case 11,substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I atfix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

- J. B. ALEXANDER.

Witnesses:

I'IARRY Cox, Bowman Cox.

